Adjustable berth light



P 1966 E. c. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 3,275,823

ADJUSTABLE BERTH LIGHT Filed April 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORE FmaraTZZflz/zerm/z United States Patent 3,275,823 ADJUSTABLE BERTH LIGHT Edward C. Zimmerman, Evanston, and Peter Aleksa, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Patent License Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,077 9 Claims. (Cl. 240--73) The present invention relates to lighting fixtures in general and more particularly .to a lighting fixture in which a lamp shade is mounted in a manner which permits it to be partially received within a recessed portion in a base portion mounting the same. Suitable means is provided in the upper portion of the lamp shade to allow the shade .to be withdrawn from the recess and thereafter rotated through substantially 360 thereby permitting selective positioning of the lamp shade to direct light in any desired direction.

The adjustable lamp of the present invention is capable of widespread use, and in particular is adapted to be used in applications requiring the lamp to be folded to an out-of-the-way position when not in use. Specific examples of the latter applications are found in the broad category of passenger type transportation, including ships, boats, trains, airplanes and the like. In these applications space is at a premium, generally requiring lighting fixtures to be as compact as possible, and mounted so as to allow the lamp shape to be folded into suitable wall recesses in order to permit berths to be folded in wall recesses, or depending on the specific application, mounted in a manner so as to minimize the interference with movement of persons within the compartment.

In any application it is desirable to provide for the lamp to be easily removed from the storing recess for use in direct or indirect lighting application, thereby requiring the shade to be movable out of the storing recess and then rotatable in about a generally horizontal axis perpendicular to the mounting base. To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to provide suitable swivel means to allow lamp shade movement outwardly and thereafter rotationally to satisfy the various needs of the particular application.

The present invention utilizes a unique and compact swivel means which is mounted in the upper portion of the lamp shade directly above the socket mounting the light bulb. A simple attachment is provided to join the lamp shade to the base which permits the thickness of the base to be maintained -at an absolute minimum. The unique swivel construction allows angular movement of about 45 outwardly of the recess and rotational movement through substantially 360 about an axis generally perpendicular to the mounting base. The swivel means is of uncomplicated construction avoiding the use of ball type swivel mechanisms which, comparatively speaking, are expensive to manufacture and therefore undesirable in view of the rather competitive nature of the industry.

More specifically, the swivel means is what may be broadly categorized as a universal type joint and includes a pair of cast mounting members snugly fitting within'the top portion of the lamp shade. Each of the mounting members is provided with a generally cylindrical bore terminating in a bottom wall portion which are facing each other when assembled. Both mounting members are of substantially identical construction for manufacturing economy and ease of assembly. Suitable cutaway portions are provided in each of the mounting members which, when joined together, form an elongated slot generally at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical bores.

An insulating sleeve bearing is placed in the cylindrical bores and is provided with a pair of apertures transversed to the axis thereof which are in alignment with the elongated slot. A mounting axle is attached to the base por- 3 ,275,823 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 tion and extends through the elongated slot into the apertures in the sleeve. Suitable retainer means is provided to allow the lamp shade to be angularly movable about the axis of the insulating sleeve bearing and rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the mounting axle. Additional means is provided to prevent complete rotation of the lam-p shade which could twist off the wires supplying power to the socket.

The number of components required to form the swivel means are maintained at a minimum and utilize components-which require a minimum amount of machining. These advantages and others are achieved through a novel construction which utilizes single components for multiple functions. For example, the retainer means not only maintains the components in assembled relationship, but in addition serves to limit the angular rotation of the lamp shade as well as providing light frictional force to maintain the lamp shade in any one of a wide number of easily selected, adjusted positions. Other benefits are realized by the present construction in the form of minimizing the cost of manufacture and reducing the number of components to simplify and reduce the required time for assembly. Additional advantages are procured by the present invention, all of which will become readily apparent from a perusal of the objects and description to follow:

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved recessed type adjustable lighting fixture of uncomplicated and economical design.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture of the recessed type having swivel means mounted within the lamp shade thereby permitting the reduction in the thickness of the mounting base as well as providing excellent swivel action.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel swivel type joint for use in an adjustable lighting fixture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved lighting fixture of uncomplicated design employing a lamp shade mounting means in the form of a novel swivel assembly.

Further and fuller objects will become readily apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light fixture of the present invention;

. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the light fixture of FIG. 1 with the lamp shade positioned in the recess;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the swivel assembly taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

' FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 with a portion of the lighting fixture base shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting means forming a part of the swivel assembly;

FIG. 6 is a perspective similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the outer configuration of the mounting means;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation showing the limits of movement of the lamp shade; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view on a reduced scale of the rotational limits of the lamp shade about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the base portion mounting the lamp shade.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates the adjustable lighting fixture of the present invention, being formed of two major components including a base assembly 11 and a lamp shade assembly 12. The base assembly 11 includes a back mounting plate 13 which is adapted to be mounted on a wall, bulkhead or the like by means of fasteners indicated fragmentarily at 14 and 15. The base assembly;

12 includes a generally fiat plate-like member having a central raised boss 19 which is drilled and tapped as at 20. A front cover plate 16 overlies the back mounting plate 13 and is joined thereto by a cap screw 21 countersunk in the central part of a shallow recessed portion 17 approximating the exterior configuration of the lamp shade 12.

An upper portion of the front cover plate 16 is provided with an inwardly projecting boss having a central cylindrical bore 22 which merges with a frusto-conical bore 23 which in turn terminates in a cylindrical-bore 24 of reduced diameter. A mounting axle 25 (shown in dotted lines) has a first end portion of like configura- 'bly 28 and carries the usuallight bulb shown by dotted lines at 29. Suitable conductors lead from a socket 30 through the mounting axle 25 to a terminal strip 31, which in turn is electrically connected to a suitable power supply. One conductor is wired in a conventional manner through a switch 32 mounted beneath the lamp shade for easy accessibility. The position of the switch mounting permits its operation Without reaching above the lamp shade which oftentimes becomes quite warm due to the 1 heat generated by the'light bulb 29. In the present instance, the switch is accessible at all times regardlessof the positioning of the lamp shade 12.

The construction of the swivel means 28 is more clearly seen in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3 with a fragmentary portion of the lamp shade 12 also illustrated in section. A pair of mounting members 33 and 34 are received in the upper portion of the lamp shade 12 and .held thereto by means of a machine screw 35 co-operating with a nut 36 held captive between the mounting members 33 and 34. I Details of the manner in which the mounting members are joined will be discussed in detail in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6.

As seen in FIG. 3, each of the mounting members 33 and 34 is formed with a cylindrical bore 37 and 38 respectively, Which open facing towards each other when the mounting members are joined together. The bottom portion of the bores 37 and 38 are of uniform construction, each having a flat bottom portion 39 joined to the side walls of the cylindrical bore 37 by means of a trustoconical wall portion 40.

As is more evident in FIGS. 3 and 4, a sleeve-like :bearing bushing 41 is received-in the cylindrical bores and abuts the bottom and frusto-conical portions 39 and respectively. of the cylindrical bore 37. A pair of transverse apertures 42 and 43 are provided in the sleeve 41 and receive an end portion of the mounting axle 25 with a bearing fit. It is contemplated that the sleeve-like bearing 41 may be formed of a suitable insulating and bearing material such as Bakelite over a canvas base, plastic or the equivalent. Each of the cylindrical bores 37 and 38 are provided with smooth side walls to permit easy relative movement of the sleeve-like bearing 41in response to lamp shade movement.

Each of the mounting members 33 and 34 areprovided with recessed portions 44 and 45 on opposite sides thereof which form an elongated slot illustrated in dotted lines at 46 in FIG. 3. An opening 71 of like configuration is formed in the rear of the lamp shade 12. The mounting axle 25 projects through an elongated opening in the lamp shade l2 and the elongated slot 46 into the trans- 4, versely extending aligned apertures 42 and 43 in the sleeve-like bearing 41, and terminates within the aperture 43. A circumferential groove 47 is cut in the mountmg axle 25 adjacent the end, being positioned centrally of the sleeve member 41 when the components are assembled. The groove 47 is discontinuous, being interrupted by a small wall portion 48 which serves as an obstruction to the continuity of the groove 47.

A stop member 49 is provided with a pin-like projection 50 which is receivedin the groove 47 to prevent axial withdrawal of the mounting axle 25 {from the apertures 42 and 43. A biasing spring 51 has one end acting against the disk-like body of the stop member, 49 to maintain the pin 50 within the groove 47. A spring bearing member 52 supports the opposite end to permit the spring 51 to rotate with the sleeveelike bearing 41 Within the .cylindrical-bores' 37 and 38 in response to lamp shadeadjustment.

The spring bearing 52' is provided with a conical end portion 53 to limit the total contactwith the end wall of the cylindrical bore 38 thereby enhancing the ,ease of spring movement as the lamp shade ,12 is adjusted. A cylindrical section 54 of reduced diameter on the spring bearing 52 is received within the spring 51 for maintaining the components in operative relationship. The spring 51 urges the pin 50.0n the stop member 49 into the groove 47 while simultaneously urging the sleeve-like bearing 41 into abutment with the bottom of the cylindrical bore37 for purposes to become ap arent.

The mounting axle 25 is formed of tubular stock providing a conduit for accommodating an electrical conductor 55 leading from inside the base to .the socket 30 in a manner so as to not interfere with the freedom of lamp shade movement. A pair of mounting lugs .57 and 58 are formed on the mounting members 33 and 34, at casting and later. tapped to provide mounting-means for the socket. An insulator 56 is interposed and studs 59 and 60, which are accessible through the open end of the socket 30, mount the socket to the swivel assembly 28'.

The detailed construction of the mounting. members 33 and 34 is more readily apparent in FIGS5 and 6, wherein the inside and outside ,contour is illustrated. As previously noted, the mounting members may be .cast or formed in any suitable manner and prior to machining are of identical construct-ion minimizing the initial cost.

The mounting member 33 is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5 having a pair of outer lugs 61 and 62, an inside lug 63 and .raised mounting portion 70 for cooperation with counterpart components on the adjacent mounting member to form the elongated slot 46 and maintain the mounting members in spaced relation. vThe raised mounting portion70 is provided with a semi-circular groove portion 64 to allow the passage of the fastener 35, joining the mounting members to the lamp shade 12. A rectangular recess 65 is formed in the mounting por tion 70 and holds the co-operating nut 36 captive as the. threaded fastener 35 is inserted. tangular. recess 65 maybe omitted if the groove 64 is tapped after the mounting members'are joined. One of e the mounting members'is drilled and tapped on the lugs 61: and 62, while the other. is counterbored anddrilled as at 66 to allow a threaded fastener such as a cap screw to be inserted to join the mounting members. The over-all exterior .contour of the mounting members is such that they will sungly fit within the lamp shade 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 3 at assembly. .Obviously, the lamp.

shade 12 may be of-a different contour than that shown limited only by the space requirements of .the swivel components.

The swivel means 28 may be assembled in the following manner.. The mounting member '33 is placed in a Mounting axle 25 is inserted through the aligned apertures 42 and 43 with the body resting on the recess 44 and Obviously, the .rec-

the groove 47 in alignment with the axis of the sleevelike bearing 41. The stop pin 49, spring 51 and bearing 52 are assembled in that order within the open end of the sleeve-like bearing 41. Nut 36 is placed in the rectangular slot 65 and the mounting member 34 is positioned so as to align the lug members 61, 62 and 63 and the mounting portion 70 on both members. The members 33 and 34 are drawn together by means of threaded fasteners extending through lugs 61 and 62 on one member into tapped holes in the counterpart lugs on the other mounting member, to hold the nut capative and preload the spring 51.

The socket 30 may then be joined to the mounting members and the entire subassembly may then be inserted into the lamp shade and joined thereto with the mounting axle 25 projecting through the elongated aperture 71 in the rear of the lamp shade 12. The mounting axle 25 is then fastened to the front cover plate 16 by means of the nut and washer 26 and 27.1 Appropriate electrical connections are made and the front cover plate 16 and back plate are joined by the cap screw 21.

To install the fixture, the front cover plate 16 and back plate 13 are separated and the back plate 13 is mounted on the wall in the manner described above. Electrical connection to a supply is made and the conductor 55 is connected to the terminal and the front cover plate 16 attached to the back plate 13 by means of the single cap screw 21 and the fixture is ready for use. The marginal edge portions of the front cover plate 16 extend over the marginal edges of the backing plate 13 to trim the completed asembly and prevent the front cover plate 16 from movement. The lamp shade 12 may then be adjusted to a Wide variety of convenient positions for direct or indirect lighting.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lamp shade 12 may be adjusted in an outward direction angularly with respect to the base within the limits illustrated by the several phantom views of the lamp shade 12 in FIG. 7. These limits are established by the mounting axle 25 engaging the mounting portion 70 on the mounting members 33 and 34. The lamp shade 12 may also be rotated about a central axis perpendicular to the base 11 in the counterclockwise direction through 200" and 140 in the clockwise direction from a starting position when the lamp shade is directed downward. Throughout such rotation, any outward angularity adjustment may be effected within the limits shown in the side elevational view of FIG. 7.

The lighting fixture is put into use by withdrawing the shade from the recess, causing the mounting members to rotate relative to the bearing sleeve 41. When rotational adjustment of the type illustrated in FIG. 8 is desired, the lamp shade is merely twisted causing relative rotation to occur between the apertures in the sleeve bearing 41 and mounting axle 25 with the stop pin 50 riding the groove 47. When the pin 50 engages the wall 48 in the groove 47, the lamp shade is at one limit, and thereafter may be rotated a total of 340 in the opposite direction before engaging the opposite limit.

Throughout such rotation, the direction of the light may be set in any desired position, since the biasing force of the spring 51 is continuously urging the mounting axle 25 against the sleeve bearing 41, which in turn is bottomed on the frustoconical wall portion 40 and bottom wall 39 in the cylindrical bore 37. Sutficient friction is thus developed to maintain the lamp shade in any desired adjusted position, with only a light force required to move it to any other desired position. In using a single spring, the biasing force will remain substantially constant regardless of the position of the lamp shade. When it becomes necessary to store the lamp shade to provide head room, make up berths or the like, depending upon the application of the fixture, the lamp shade 12 is rotated to the vertical position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and moved inwardly into the recess 17 to store the lamp shade in a compact and protected manner.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a single embodiment, it is not intended that this be limiting since it will become immediately obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous departures can be made without departing from the inventive concepts embodied herein. Accordingly, any limitations imposed should be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A recessed and adjustable lamp fixture assembly comprising, a base portion having a shallow recess therein, a lamp shade adapted to be partially received in said shallow recess, swivel means mounting said lamp shade for movement into and out of said recess and angular movement about an axis perpendicular to said base, said swivel means including first and second mounting members joined together and fitted within an upper portion of said lamp shade, a cylindrical bore in each of said mounting members, sleeve bearing means carried in said cylindrical bores and having a pair of apertures transversely of the axis thereof, a recessed portion on each of said mounting members extending generally at right angles with respect to said cylindrical bore and thereby forming an elongated slot, a mounting axle having a first end portion joined to said base and a second end portion extending through an opening in said lamp shade into said slot and said apertures in said sleeve bearing means, and retainer means co-operating with said second end portion of said mounting axle to maintain said mounting axle within said apertures While permitting angular and rotary adjustment.

2. The lamp fixture of claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes a circumferential slot in said mounting axle member, pin means received in said slot and biasing means urging said pin means into said slot and further urging said sleeve bearing means towards a bottom Wall portion in one of said cylindrical bores whereby said lamp shade will be frictionally retained in any adjusted position.

3. The lamp fixture of claim 2 wherein said biasing means is provided with a bearing member in engagement with a bottom wall portion with one of said cylindrical bores to permit rotation of said biasing means with respect to said cylindrical bores in said mounting members.

4. A recessed lamp fixture assembly comprising a base, swivel means mounting a lamp shade to said base, said swivel means including first and second mounting rnemhers adapted to be joined to each other, a cylindrical bore in each of said mounting members, a cutaway portion in each of said mounting members which forms an elongated slot generally at right angles to said cylindrical bore when said mounting members are joined together, sleeve bearing means having the end portions thereof positioned in said cylindrical bore and having a pair of aligned apertures extending through side wall portions thereof, said apertures being aligned with said elongated slot, a tubular mounting axle member joined to said base and extending through a slot in said lamp shade int-o said aligned apertures, a circumferential groove in said axle being positioned centrally of said sleeve bearing means, pin means slidably mounted in said sleeve bearing means and having a portion thereof projecting into said circumferential groove, and biasing means urging said pin means against said mounting axle and said sleeve bearing means against a wall in said cylindrical bore to frictionally retain said lamp shade in any desired preselected position.

5. An adjustable lamp fixture comprising a base having a shallow recess, a lamp shade adapted to be received in said recess, swivel rncans adjustably mounting said lamp shade on said base, said swivel means including a mounting axle having a first end portion joined to said base, first and second mounting members held within an upper portion of said lamp shade, an aligned elongated slot in said lamp shade and said mounting members, said mounting axle passing through said elongated slot and terminating in a second end portion within said mounting members, and transversely extending bearing means joining said second end portion of said mounting axle to said mountmounting members having ing members and said lamp shade, said transversely extending bearing means permitting movement of said lamp shade about a first axis in said mounting axle and simultaneous movement about a second axis transversely intersecting said second end portion disposed within said lamp shade whereby swivel movement of said lamp shade relative to said base will occur within said lamp shade.

6. An adjustable lamp fixture comprising a base having a shallow recess, a lamp shade adapted to be received in said recess, swivel means adjustably mounting said lamp shade on said base, said swivel means including a mounting axle having a first endportion joined to said base, first and second mounting members held within an upper portion of said lamp shade,,an aligned elongated slot in said lamp shade and said mounting members, said mounting axle passing through said elongated slot and terminating in ase-cond end portion within said mountingmembers, and means joining said lamp shade and mounting members to said mounting axle to allow adjustmentof said lamp shade, said means joining said lamp shade and said mounting members to said mounting axle including a cylindrical bore in each of said the axis thereof transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mounting axle, a sleeve bearing positioned in said cylindrical bore and having aligned apertures through the side walls thereof to receive said I second end portion of said mounting axle and retainer means to prevent withdrawal of said axle from the sleeve bearing while permitting movement relative thereto.

7. The light fixture of claim 6 wherein said retainer means includes a groove in said second end portion of said mounting axle, pin means received in said groove, and spring means urging said pin means into said groove and said sleeve bearing towards one of said cylindrical bores in one of said mounting members.

8. The light fixture of claim 7 wherein said groove is interruptedby a wall portion co-operating with said pin means to limit movement about the axis of said mounting axle.

'movement about the respective axes of said 9. -A recessed and adjustable lamp fixture assembly comprising, a base portion having'a shallow recess therein, a lamp shade adapted to be partially received insaid shallow recess, swivel meansmounting said lamp shade for movement into and out of said recess and angular movement about an axis perpendicular to ,said base, said swivel means including first and second mounting members, a cylindrical bore in each of said mounting members,,said mounting members being joined together and fitted within said lamp -shade','a light bulb receiving socket joined to said mounting members, a mounting axle having one end joined to said base,;the other end of said mounting axle projecting into an elongated slot formed by said said elongated slot being generally at right angles to the axis of said cylindrical bores, a sleeve mounting members,

bearing in said cylindrical bores, said sleeve bearing having aligned apertures opening into said elongatedslot and receiving the other end portion of said mounting axle, a groove in said mounting axle positioned between said apertures, pin means received in said groove, spring means urging said pin means intobearing against'a bottom wallin one of said mounting members thereby to retain said mounting axle within said mounting members while permitting lamp, shade sleeve bear.- ing and said mounting axle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,875 8/1933 Greist et al. 24073 2,732,486 1/1956 Osowski 240-73 X FOREIGN PATENTS 870,482 6/1961 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER,-Primary Examiner. CHARLES R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner.

said groove and said sleeve, 

5. AN ADJUSTABLE LAMP FIXTURE COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A SHALLOW RECESS, A LAMP SHADE ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN SAID RECESS, SWIVEL MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING SAID LAMP SHADE ON SAID BASE, SAID SWIVEL MEANS INCLUDING A MOUNTING AXLE HAVING A FIRST END PORTION JOINED TO SAID BASE, FIRST AND SECOND MOUNTING MEMBERS HELD WITHIN AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID LAMP SHADE, AN ALIGNED ELONGATED SLOT IN SAID LAMP SHADE AND SAID MOUNTING MEMBERS, SAID MOUNTING AXLE PASSING THROUGH SAID ELONGATED SLOT AND TERMINATING IN A SECOND END PORTION WITHIN SAID MOUNTING MEMBERS, AND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BEARING MEANS JOINT SAID SECOND END PORTION OF SAID MOUNTING AXLE TO SAID MOUNTING MEMBERS AND SAID LAMP SHADE, SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING BEARING MEANS PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID LAMP SHADE ABOUT A FIRST AXIS IN SAID MOUNTING AXLE AND SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS TRANSVERSELY INTERSECTING SAID SECOND END PORTION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID LAMP SHADE WHEREBY SWIVEL MOVEMENT OF SAID LAMP SHADE RELATIVE TO SAID BASE WILL OCCUR WITHIN SAID LAMP SHADE. 